Car-fender.



No. 680,212. Patented Aug. l3, lam.

' u. ABRAHAMS.

CAB FENDER.

(Application filed Apr. 9, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN ABRAHAMS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CAR-FENDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,21 dated August 13, 1901- Application filed April 9, 1901. Serial No. 55,089. (No model.)

. hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in street-car fenders; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the device in its retracted position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the movable section or platform extended outward. Fig. 3 is a front end view, the apron being removed. Fig. dis a perspective View of the movable section, the apron being removed; and Fig. 5 is a sectional horizontal plan on line 5 5 of Fig. 1, the apron being removed.

The object of my invention is to construct a fender which will effectively prevent any possibility of a person struck by a car from passing under the fender and being crushed or killed inconsequence. A further object is to have a fender which will respond automatically in the event that the motorman from inadvertence fails to operate or depress the same on the verge of colliding with a person standing on the track. The present device also possesses advantages better apparent from a detailed description of the invention, which is as follows:

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the platform of a car, and 2 depending brackets or lugs, to which the main stationary and tilting platform 3 of the fender is pivoted. The platform is normally retained in a horizontal position by the expansive force of the coiled springs 4 4, carried at the rear corners of the platform and bearing with their upper ends against the base of the car. In case a car is about to encounter an object on the track the motorman depresses with his foot a rod or link 5, projecting through and above the car-platform, the link being pivotally connected to a bracket 6, secured to the platform on the rollers 11 at the lower ends of the supporting arms or brackets 12, depending from the platform 3. As soon as the forward end of the platform 3 is depressed (see Fig. 2) the sliding platform 9 will gravitate along the incline thus formed and slide forward in advance of the platform 3, and thus insure the catching of a person standing on the track and effectively preventing such person passing under the fender. When the extension or platform 9 is once fully ejected, as shown in Fig. 2,'it is locked in said position by the pawls 13, which freely ride over the rear edge of said extension and fall into a locking position, as seen in Fig. 2.

Should the motorman lose his presence of mind on the verge of a collision with a person on the track, I provide means for efiecting automatically a depression of the platform 3 the moment the car strikes the unfortunate who may be on the track. Secured by means of a pair of yielding or resilient springs or arms 14, carried along the front edge of the tilting platform 3, is an apron 15,

made, preferably, of a skeleton frame covered with a layer of canvas or leather. The upper edge of this apron normally bears against the forward edge of the car-platform, being hinged to the free ends of the arms 14, the apron as a wholebeing relatively in advance of the tilting platform 3. A person on the track will under the circumstances be first struck by the apron, the sudden impact against which will serve to depress the forward end of the platform 3 and cause the extension 9 to slide outwardly, as in the previous case. While under the last conditions the extension 9 may not have time to slide outward its full distance, it will still have the efiect of advancing far enough to prevent the individual from passing under the fender.

I do not of course wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise details here shown, as they may in a measure be departed from without affecting the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim isr 1. A ear-fender comprising a stationary tilting platform pivoted to the bottom of the car, suitable slotted ways formed on opposite sides of said platform, an extension having rollers traveling in said ways, arms depending from the forward end of the tilting platform and having rollers over which the extension may travel, rollers at the free forward end of the extension, springs interposed between the rear adjacent corners of the tilting platform and the bottom of the car, pawls pivoted to the tilting platform at the forward end thereof adapted to lock the extension when fully withdrawn from its normal position under the car, and means under the controlof the motorman for depressing the forward end of'the tilting platform, the parts operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A car-fender comprising a stationary tilting platform pivoted to the bottom of the and the bottom of the car, pawls pivoted to v the tilting platform at the forward end thereof adapted to lock the extension when fully withdrawn from its normal position under the car, and means under the control of the motorman for depressing the forward end of the tilting platform, the parts operating snbstantially as, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presencerof two witnesses.

NATHAN ABRAHAMS.

Witnesses EMIL STAREK, MARGUERITE SMOOT. 

